Temple Emanu-El 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232

"Terrible Sunday school program. If you want to teach your kids to read Hebrew or Yiddish, give them a Duolingo subscription. They'll learn more, faster. Absolute waste of time and money. I'd know, I was forced to attend this waste of money. And just as a matter of fact, yes it is a 'you make of it what you can' and 'it' here is a bunch of shoddy worksheets that would make an elementary school embarrassed to be associated with. Do the 'teachers' speak any Hebrew or Yiddish? Don't know, they never tried to speak it with us, but they can recite words off of a sheet of paper as if they were singing Klingon lyrics."

"It was a very tight knit community which I loved to see. Of you saw my reviews on some hotels based in Sarasota and Tampa, you'll see that I had a broken foot. This synagogue was extremely accommodating. I just did not see this as a traditional synagogue with there being drums and tambourines and other instruments during meaningful prayers. Whoever the rabbi was is one of the best I have ever seen as well!"

"Great Rabbis and a beautiful, recently-renovated synagogue. To me, the Rabbi makes the Temple. Temple Emanu El's main Rabbi, Brenner Glickman is the best Rabbi I ever saw. He is extremely friendly and warm and gives great sermons. He is very approachable and his wife, who is very sweet, too, is also a Rabbi and they just hired another assistant Rabbi, who is very nice and kind and knowledgeable, too. There is a great religious school, where they focus on making Judaism a fun experience for the kids. There are lots of interfaith couples at the Temple, and, this being Sarasota, a lot of people from other places. There is a very warm, family feeling there. I have not observed any cliques like there can be in Temples in other cities, probably because there are so many people from other places. It is a Reform Temple, so there is a strong focus on charity and community service. I think Temple Emanu El is the biggest Temple in the area now and I know that the religious school has the most students. However, they manage somehow to make you feel like they know you and manage not to treat you like a number. I came from a Conservative Temple and I notice that the services are shorter and more in English. The Rabbi doesn't wear a Yarmulke, as happens in some Reform Temples, but his sermons are pretty neutral politically and do not have a strong liberal bent, as also happens in some Reform Temples. The Rabbi has a strong connection to Israel."

"What makes a great congregation? It is the people. Temple Emanu-El has the best."

"Temple Emanu-El is like a second home for our family. The religious school is superb - my kids actually look forward to attending - and the monthly family services are a delight. To hear children reciting prayers fluently is something to behold. There are abundant programs for young and old to enjoy all year 'round and the congregation's commitment to community service is incredible. Rabbi Brenner Glickman is an inspiration who serves to connect his congregants to Judaism and each other. We have made an entire community of friends that we socialize with regularly. We can't imagine any other congregation for our family!"